Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

A bit of this and that today including everything from literary fiction to mystery to women’s fiction and one non-fiction title. Enjoy.

This book will be a fairy tale come true for its intended audience.  Many kids go through a “horse crazy” phase.  That has clearly been the experience of Kezzy in this chapter book with illustrations.  Imagine her amazement and delight when she sees a horse eating donuts in the grocery store…and even better, there is no owner in sight.  So, you can guess what Kezzy does.

Young chapter book readers who are fond of ponies will very much enjoy seeing what happens next.  They will most likely be turning the pages rapidly until they reach the very end.  What will the reader think of what happens to Donut the pony?  Hopefully, they will agree with the ending after having followed the story to get there.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title  All opinions are my own.

Pub date:  June 9, 2020

 

I recently read and reviewed this author’s Pirate Adventure which I highly recommended.  This is another entry, in what appears to be a series, that will engage a child while encouraging them to use their imagination.  This time the adventure is in the jungle where life can be pretty exciting.

This book has vibrant and engaging illustrations.  To give you a flavor, the book begins with choosing the character the child wants to be; that is followed by the clothes the reader wants to wear. Children can then choose why they want to go on the advenure and what they will need to bring.  And so it goes from there through this enchanting title until the reader gets to the end.

The book can be read multiple time with different choices being made on each occasion. Look at this title with a child you know.  I think that you will both enjoy the experience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#JungleAdventure #NetGalley

Anne Perry has been writing mysteries since 1979 when the first of her Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novels was published. I still remember how much I enjoyed that novel’s Victorian world and its characters. Perry went on to pen a second popular series about Inspector Monk; the conceit that carried through a number of the books was Monk’s amnesia. Monk solved his cases with the help of a nurse and lawyer. The author also has published a number of Christmas novellas that feature characters from these series. For years, readers could look forward to a new book in each series every year.

More recently, Ms. Perry started two new series. With the first Elena Standish novel, she moved to the period during which Hitler was rising to power. Her second new series features Daniel Pitt. He is the lawyer son of Thomas and Charlotte. I enjoyed the first two books in the Daniel Pitt series but, for me, third time is the charm. I think that One Fatal Flaw is an excellent read.

As is true in Ms. Perry’s other series, the recurring characters who surround the protagonist add interest and depth to the story. Chief among these is Miriam; older than Daniel, she knows a great deal about criminology and science, although the times that she lives in do not allow her full or formal entry to the working world. In each book, the relationship between Daniel and Miriam deepens.

One Fatal Flaw tells the interrelated stories of three cases of murder and arson. Ms. Perry handles the narrative expertly and readers will enjoy spending time with the very decent characters as they do their best to serve justice.

I give this book five stars and offer many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review

Julia Spencer-Fleming pens one of the best mystery series around. I recommend her books most highly and I have read them all, starting with In the Bleak Midwinter. The setting is upstate New York and the region is brought to life in a way that makes a reader feel that they are there. The protagonists, Clare and Russell are adults with histories; both were in the military. Clare is now an Episcopal priest while Russ is the head of the Millers Kill Police Department. Over the course of the series, readers get to know these real, flawed and genuine adults well.

It is best to read this series in order. Long term readers will be ecstatic to spend time with Russ, Clare and those in their world after a long hiatus between the last book and this one. In this entry the main story is complex as it involves three murders; one took place in the 50s, one in the 70s. No spoilers so I can’t say more.

If you know Clare and Russ, I hope that you will be as delighted as I was by their return. If you are new to the series, you are lucky as you have nine books to look forward to. Mystery readers, please check this series out. Ms. Spencer-Fleming, you have not lost your touch!
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this read in exchange for an honest review.

When my children were in first grade and studying women’s history, they and I learned about Emily Roebling.  Until then, I had not known abut this woman who followed through on the work that led to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge.  Both of my children made field trips with their classes and walked over the bridge; one of them continues to walk over the bridge frequently.  It is an iconic site in New York.

So, given this background, I was absolutely thrilled when NetGalley and the publisher offered me this title in exchange for an honest review.  I found this novel to be very engaging  as  Emily was vividly brought to life, from her days in the South to her time in New York.  Emily achieved so much in following through on the bridge but there was more to her life than that as this author ably showed.  Emily’s marriage and other relationships in her life are portrayed as her story is told.

During a time when we are re-examining women’s contributions in so many areas, this book illuminates someone otherwise slightly lost to history.  I highly recommend this title for those who enjoy historical fiction.

sleuthofbakerstreet.ca/i/1584200/April_2020_e_MOM_Read.pdf

This is a cute and funny story about a cat who wakes up with a cone. Jeremy is very, very unhappy about this until…Yes, there are many ways that the cone can be useful. It is useful enough that, for a moment, Jeremy misses the cone when it is removed.
Jeremy is very much like a young child; he likes to get into things and does not always consider the consequences. Still, he can be made so happy by the small things that to him are big.
This is an adorable story for cat lovers both old and young. The illustrations add to the reader’s experience and are very well done.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#ConeCat #NetGalley

Robyn Carr’s books are popular in women’s fiction and here are four for one low price.  Readers of this blog know that I always recommend Donna Leon’s novels.  By the way, the MHZ streaming service has a tv show of these Brunetti mysteries.  Also, I enjoyed the Annie Dalton title.  Happy reading.

Happily Ever After is such a sweet series of comics.  Readers will adore spending time with this couple as they live together and negotiate their relationship. Many of the strips offer a glimpse of the universals in relationships and many made me smile. This couple could serve as a model for all of us as we try to live well together while confined.   Definitely worth a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date;  June 2, 2020

#HappilyEverAfterEverythingInBetween #NetGalley